Google shares Novartis lens vision: US company team up with Swiss pharmaceutical firm to develop contact lenses

Google revealed earlier this year that it had planned to develop “smart” contact lenses

Technology giant Google have teamed up with the Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis to develop the next generation of contact lenses.

It is hoped that the new lenses will not only improve eyesight for regular users but also monitor insulin levels for people with diabetes. No financial terms of the deal were announced.

The tie-up comes as no surprise, given that Novartis boss Joe Jimenez identified eye care as one of the company’s three key divisions when he announced a radical restructure of the company in April.

Google also revealed earlier this year that it planned to develop “smart” contact lenses and said it had met with officials at the US Food and Drug Administration, which oversees medical devices.

“We are looking forward to working with Google to bring together their advanced technology and our extensive knowledge of biology to meet unmet medical needs,” Jimenez said today.

“This is a key step for us to go beyond the confines of traditional disease management, starting with the eye.”

Google’s prototype lens contains a sensor and electronic circuits. Co-founder Sergey Brin said: “Our dream is to use the latest technology in the miniaturisation of electronics to help improve the quality of life for millions of people.

"We are very excited to work with Novartis to make this dream come true.”